[dropcaps style=’2′]At the American Coatings Show, April 10-12 in Indianapolis, Indiana, X-Rite Incorporated, a global leader in color science and technology, and Pantone LLC, will showcase their latest production innovations that combine color imaging with spectrophotometry for the characterization of today’s most complex pigments and coatings. In stand 2649, X-Rite will discuss how imaging capabilities included in the new MA-T family of multi-angle spectrophotometers help customers define and control effect finishes such as colored sparkles. The American Coatings Show will also be the first time X-Rite demonstrates the recently announced MetaVue VS3200, a non-contact imaging instrument that brings greater versatility for the measurement of liquids, powders, gels, or other small and odd shaped samples.[/dropcaps]

“Increased color choices and finishes enhance the appeal of products, but they also create new challenges for formulation and quality control professionals who must ensure product consistency and harmony across adjacent parts,” said Richard Roth, vice president product management, X-Rite. “We are excited to bring to the American Coatings Show our latest technology innovations for managing and controlling color and appearance characteristics of complex coatings, while speeding up production and reducing rework.”

At the American Coating Show, the X-Rite stand will feature innovation zones that highlight the latest solutions to help designers, lab managers, production managers and quality control professionals achieve color accuracy. These include:

• Design and color specification – Ensuring that the colors selected in design can be achieved consistently in final production begins with specification. X-Rite will demonstrate how physical and digital reference guides can be used in design and across the manufacturing workflow to verify color intent and improve formulation and manufacturing efficiency. Featured solutions include Pantone Color Guides, X-Rite CAPSURE, ColorMunki and the SpectraLight QC light stand.

• Development and formulation – To help companies create, formulate and match colors and effect finishes, X-Rite will showcase the latest in benchtop spectrophotometers designed to develop master color standards and tolerances. Featured solutions include the Ci7800 benchtop spectrophotometer and the Ci64UV handheld sphere spectrophotometer.

• Production – X-Rite innovation combining spectrophotometry with imaging enables manufacturers to set, communicate, and ensure conformance with global standards for effect finishes – encompassing color, sparkle and coarseness – throughout the production workflow. X-Rite will also showcase a range of offline and inline solutions for the color measurement of wet and dry paints, or other small shaped samples. Featured solutions include the MA-T Family, MetaVue VS3200, VeriColor, and ERX130.

• Quality control – In the final step of the production workflow, having the right set of software and measurement instruments in place for quality assurance helps reduce customer rejects. Quality control professionals can assess color quality for complex finishes at all phases of production. Software and technology can be used to identify and correct color variances early on in the workflow to minimize rework. Data can be shared with customers and other suppliers to validate performance. Featured solutions include a range of handheld and benchtop spectrophotometers.

In addition to stopping by the X-Rite stand, show attendees can see a live demonstration of the MetaVue VS3200 from Dave Visnovsky, X-Rite Product Manager, during the product presentations on 11 April at 9 am.